Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON – Anyone driving down South Shore Drive in Worthington Friday morning may have encountered a bit of a problem in front of Freedom Shore Park around 9 a.m. – part of the street was closed for over an hour while a demonstration took place so city leaders and others could get a look at what it might look like if bike lanes were added.

With the assistance of the parks and recreation department, who added temporary lines using chalk, local Statewide Health Improvement Program committee members were able to give a visual of South Shore with bike lanes on both sides of the...

WORTHINGTON - In honor of Labor Day, all city, county and state government offices will be closed Monday, including the law enforcement center at Prairie Justice Center. The Worthington Post Office will be closed, as will the Nobles County Library.

All Worthington financial institutions will be closed for the day. Fareway will be closed for the day, but Hy-Vee and Walmart will maintain regular hours. Schaap Sanitation routes normally done on Mondays will be taken care of on Tuesday

WORTHINGTON – A Wilmont man has been charged in Nobles County District Court with fifth-degree controlled substance possession, along with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to information from Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force Commander Troy Appel, a search warrant was executed August 22 at the residence of Dennis James Rutgers on Hesselroth Avenue in Wilmont.

Agents located numerous items associated with methamphetamine, including glass pipes, baggies, and tubing that contained residue and white powder that field tested...

WORTHINGTON —A Worthington man is charged with possession of stolen property and financial transaction card fraud after being arrested for thefts from construction sites and vehicles, including a debit card taken from a wallet. Manivong Senesoury, age 38, is accused of stealing more than $6,000 in items or purchases.

The complaint states authorities were first alerted when a construction trailer in downtown Worthington had a padlock cut. Tools worth more than $2,600 were taken, some still in boxes. Days later, a wallet went missing from a man’s truck, and purchases began to show up...

WORTHINGTON – The Worthington City Council on Monday opted to go with the Fullerton Building System for the “Welcome to Worthington” signs, a decision they tabled from their previous meeting after being chastised for not considering using a local business to build the signs.

The Fullerton signs will cost $90,000 – as compared to the alternative signs through Wells Concrete for sign faces and Reitmeier Masonry to erect the side brick pillars, which would have been $120,000 – and are guaranteed for 30 years.

Even with a lower price, the city only set aside $50,000 for the signs...

WORTHINGTON — The Nobles County Integration Collaborative and Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Worthington campus, will host a Culture Corner presentation Saturday in the college commons.

Two sessions will be offered. The first, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., will include information about the country of Brazil, and the second, from 2 to 4 p.m., will showcase different techniques and styles of Brazilian dancing. Dance instructors and choreographers Celle Banks and Sebastiao Lima will lead the program.

WATERLOO, Iowa – Deere & Company announced Friday that it will place approximately 460 employees who work in the company's Waterloo, Iowa operations on indefinite layoff in response to current market demand for its products. Deere said employees were informed Friday of the layoffs, which are effective October 20th.

"Layoffs are never easy because we understand the significant impact this action has on our employees, their families, and the community" said Dave DeVault, factory manager. "We very carefully assess our workforce requirements to ensure we make the best possible...

WORTHINGTON – Worthington City Administrator Craig Clark on Thursday said the Civil Service Commission hopes to have a decision made regarding a new police chief by the latter half of September.

Applications for the position were due by August 4, and 10 were received. Of those 10, eight were asked for further information, which is due back on August 27. Interviews or an open house for the candidates will be scheduled in September.

Clark said the position is an important one for the community, and the civil service committee is taking an active role in making the right...

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Area Foundation is now accepting applications for grants to be awarded in November 2014. More than $15,000 will be available for distribution to qualifying organizations.

The Worthington Area Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit philanthropic organization funded by large and small donations. Foundation grants are made to non-profit, non-religious and non-political groups. An eligible organization should promote local culture, environmental causes, educational, recreational or civic activities essential to building and strengthening the community....

WORTHINGTON – Wiring is thought to be the cause of a fire that displaced a family of five Tuesday evening in Worthington. The Worthington Fire Department responded to a fire call at 949 11th Street at approximately 5:04 p.m. that destroyed a home inhabited by three adults and two children.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the back of the home was already fully engulfed, and neighboring homes had to be evacuated.

With significant fire and smoke damage, Fire Chief Rick von Holdt did not feel the home would be salvageable. The American Red Cross was on hand to help the...